Spain’s new wave of white wines: Godello

Vionta Godello Monterrei 2018

Spain offers a rich hunting ground for interesting and refreshing white wines. Albariño is probably the best known but Verdejo, Garnacha Blanca and Godello are others well worth trying. Each of them brings features of their regionality to the table; factors such as climate, terroir, aspect and viticulture all have a role to play.

This Godello wine is a fine example of what the grape is capable of. Grown predominantly in Galicia, it is less well-known than that other Galician delight, Albariño, and has different characteristics. With less acidity than Albariño, typically a Godello is a richer and fuller wine, with more texture.

The Vionta Godello 2018 is from the Monterrei region, just on the border with Portugal. Here the climate is warm and dry, ideal for ripening the grapes, but still under the influence of the Atlantic to ensure sufficient acidity. Vionta takes its name from a small island just off Spain’s Atlantic coast and the island’s silhouette appears on the label.

A dry, medium-bodied wine with medium acidity and a long finish, it has aromas of blossom, apple and pear on the nose, and grapefruit and peach flavours on the palate. It is a ripe, well-balanced, silky wine which is fine by itself or as a perfect match for seafood.

Available from Slurp (£13.95)

Two Sauvignon Blanc wines from the Loire Valley

The vineyards of the Loire Valley produce a diverse range of white, red and rosé wines from the Central Vineyards in the east, through Touraine and Anjou-Saumur, to the Nantais sub-region by the Atlantic coast in the west. Each of the four sub-regions is subject to different climactic conditions better suited to certain grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc in the Central Vineyards and Touraine; Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc in Touraine and Anjou-Saumur; and Melon Blanc in Nantais, for example.

Notwithstanding the excellent Chenin Blanc wines from Vouvray or the refreshing Muscadet sur Lie wines from Sèvre-et-Maine, for me the Loire Valley is synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc and since becoming first acquainted with Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé wines as a student many years ago, I find myself coming back to these wines time and again.

The Hauts de Perrière Pouilly-Fumé (2019) from Waitrose is a very good example of what a fine Pouilly-Fumé should be. This is a crisp dry wine with high acidity, medium alcohol and medium (+) body. With aromas of apple, pear, lemon and honeysuckle on the nose, and flavours of apple, gooseberry and pear on the palate, with a smoky flintiness on the finish, the wine is well-balanced and has a smooth, velvety texture. It’s ideal as an aperitif or with a seafood dish.

Available from Waitrose. £16.79

Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Le Vin des Copains 2019

And if you like the Hauts de Perrière Pouilly-Fumé, you are sure to like this – Le Vin des Copains. This is another fine Sauvignon Blanc, this time from Touraine, just to the west of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, and is a refreshing, fruity wine to enjoy by itself or with food. A dry wine with high acidity and medium (+) body, it has aromas of blossom, apple, pear and lime on the nose, and apple, pear, grapefruit and peach on the palate. A well balanced wine with a long finish, it went down a treat with grilled mackerel.

Available from Waitrose. £8.99